Why do people think that their God is unique when there are so many similarities?

Answer 1

From a memetic point of view, it ensures survival much better.

Consider two religions, A and B. A and B both have differing theologies, but A says that their god is essentially the same as B's even though B says that theirs is the only one and has nothing whatsoever to do with A. What is going to happen in the long term to these two religions?

There will probably be crossing over of ideas... but it's likely to only go one-way. If the A believers think B's god is theirs too, then they probably have to start following some of the tenets of B's religion and maybe even the dictates of B's priests. A will have lost some of the control over their theology and people, but B will have lost none. Ultimately, we might expect A to vanish completely, becoming just a sect of B with some odd additional traditions that most B people don't have.

You can see, therefore, that exclusion is much better for survival. Religions that retain much more control tend to last longer. Those that don't vanish and you never hear about them.

Answer 2

I'm not sure that most of the people who really spend time thinking about God really think that "their" God is really "theirs". For instance, the serious students of Christianity, Judaism and Muslims, would probably all agree that their God is one and the same.

I do know that a lot of people who want to bring down believers of various kinds will put lots of interesting words into their mouths and I'm sure these conflict, but they're only so many blades on the windmill aren't they?

Xan Shui,
Philosophic Philanthropist, Honest Man

Answer 3

Too many religions have members who are fanatic and are intolerant of others beliefs. Everyone who believes in a higher power should respect others religions and not try to convert or annihilate those who don't believe the same as they do. It's a matter of superiority, they think that their 'god' is the supreme being, when in fact, everyone thinks that about their own Deity.

Answer 4

why do people thing each one of us is unique when there are so many similarities in everyone? in ea. religion, there's something diferent... a unique trait or whatnot... i wouldn't say my God is unique... just... different than others'... then again... what if we are all praying to the same God in different ways?

Answer 5

THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD NOTHING ELSE COMES CLOSE OR CAN COMPARE TO HIM HE IS THE FIRST AND THE LAST AND IF YOU THINK THERE ARE SIMILARITIES THEN YOU ARE VERY MISLEAD AND YOU NEED TO MAKE A CHOSE YOU BELIEVE IN THE ONE TRUE GOD THAT WROTE THE BIBLE OR YOU ARE ON THE OTHER PATH THERE IS NO LUKEWARM FOR GOD YOU ARE HOT FOR HIM OR YOU ARE COLD MAKE A CHOICE

Answer 6

Most really devout people do not bother learning about other religions. Instead, they believe stereotypes, myths, and what their own church tells them (though this is a bad idea, since your church is bound to skew things so that you believe their point of view...whether its right or not). THAT is why they believe their God is unique or better...They don't actually understand other religions and belief sets.

Answer 7

Because that consolidates their beliefs by making them unique and "showing" them that they have the only true god and that they will be "saved".

Answer 8

Because they tend to show off, show that they are better.
This the basic characteristic of all animals.

Answer 9

so many similarities to what? Compared to what....?

Answer 10

Because it justifies crimes against humanity.